SUU to Offer Avalanche I Course for SW Utah

February 16, 2010Category: Academics

Southern Utah University’s Outdoor Recreation Program and Center, in partnership with Brian Head Resort and the Manti La Sal Avalanche Center, are hosting the first ever Avalanche I course in southwest Utah.

Registration is now open for the southwestern Utah Avalanche I course.

Slated for March 5-7, 2010, this 24-hour American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) course will give participants a solid introduction to avalanche hazard management. This course has been designed specifically for backcountry skiers, snowshoers, snowboarders, and snowmobilers.

Course instructors for this three-day workshop are all AIARE certified from the United States Forest Service’s Manti La Sal Avalanche Center. According to AIARE, students who complete the course “can expect to develop a good grounding in how to prepare for and carry out a (backcountry) trip, to understand basic decision making while in the field, and to learn rescue techniques required to find and dig up a buried person.”

A majority of course time will be spent in Brian Head's backcountry. A course fee of $165 will cover the backcountry hands-on experience. Participants must provide their own backcountry travel gear (AT skis, telemark skis, or snowshoes and snowboard), warm clothing, food and water for the field days, and avalanche gear.

The course will run from 5 – 9 p.m. on Friday March 5, 8 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. on March 6, and 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. on March 7. Space is limited to 16 people. To sign up for the course or find out more information, visit SUU’s Outdoor Center, located in the Sharwan Smith Student Center, or call 435-865-8704.